• Home
  • News
    • People moves
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Domicile
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • North America
    • Middle East
    • US
    • US
    • UK
  • Products
    • Funds
    • Pensions
    • Platforms
    • Insurance
    • Investments
    • Private Banking
    • Citizenship
    • Taxation
  • Fintech
  • Regulation
  • ESG
  • Expats
  • In Depth
  • Special Reports
  • Directory
  • Video
  • Advertise with us
  • Directory
  • Events
  • European Fund Selector
  • Newsletters
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Newsletters
  • Advertise with us
  • Directory
  • Events
    • Upcoming events
      event logo
      International Investment Nordic Forum 2021

      International Investment is delighted to announce the 2021 International Investment Nordic Forum which will take place on Tuesday March 9, at 9am (GMT). This curated virtual event will be broadcast live and will feature a series of fund manager interviews and presentations, as well as interviews with some of the Nordic regions top fund selectors.

      • Date: 09 Mar 2021
      • ONLINE, ONLINE
      event logo
      Sustainable Investment Festival 2021

      The Sustainable Investment Festival will run online from 22-25 June and will include thought-provoking presentations from renowned keynote speakers, innovative breakout events and sessions specifically tailored to meet the information needs of fund selectors, financial advisers, pension consultants, trustees and scheme managers.

      • Date: 22 Jun 2021
      • Online, Online
      View all events
  • European Fund Selector
International Investment
International Investment

Sponsored by

Sharing Alpha
  • Home
  • News
  • Products
  • Fintech
  • Regulation
  • ESG
  • Expats
  • In Depth
  • Special Reports
  • Video
  • Expats

Saudi Arabia to 'improve foreign workers' freedom'

Saudi Arabia to 'improve foreign workers' freedom'
  • Pedro Gonçalves
  • @PeterHSG
  • 04 November 2020
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Send to  

Saudi Arabia has announced it will remove several key restrictions on foreign workers in an overhaul of the kingdom's controversial labour policies, part of a plan to attract overseas talent and increase job market mobility.

The Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development said the reforms will allow foreign workers the right to change jobs by transferring their sponsorship from one employer to another, leave and re-enter the country and secure final exit visas without the consent of their employer, which had long been required.

Related articles

  • Saudi Arabia doubles validity period for expat work visas
  • Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to replace 60,000 expat workers with nationals
  • Saudi Arabia denies 'rumours' about freezing expat fees
  • Saudi Arabia’s 10.4m expats set to face restrictions on money moved abroad

"Runaway" reports that employers can file against foreign workers who stop showing up to their jobs - effectively rendering them fugitives - will be abolished and replaced with a procedure for ending their contract, Sattam Alharbi, a deputy minister at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development told Bloomberg.

The new reforms that will come into effect in March 2021, will allow expatriate workers additional rights in line with the kingdom's Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Programme.

The reforms aim to drive greater competition in Saudi Arabia's labour market as it will permit employees to change their employers and also allow employers to attract the best talent, ultimately increasing competition, wages, and public spending inside the kingdom.

The new rules will  apply to all foreign workers in the private sector, regardless of salary level. The changes could have a dramatic effect on Saudi Arabia's labour market and the lives of the 10.5 million foreign workers who make up about a third of the kingdom's population.

The initiative is expected to lead to a reduction in the disputes between local employers and expatriate workers relating to employee mobility or exit visa requests.

Under Saudi Arabia's restrictive kafala system, used for expatriates in Gulf Arab countries for decades,  workers had little power to escape abuse because their employers controlled their exit from the country and their ability to change jobs.

 

Subscribe to International Investment's free, twice-daily, newsletter 

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Expats
  • expats
  • Middle East
  • Saudi Arabia
  • GCC

More on Expats

Expat exodus in Gulf states could continue into 2023: S&P report

  • Expats
  • 18 February 2021
Expats say lifestyle is now a bigger priority: World of Work Survey

  • Expats
  • 12 February 2021
More than 250,000 expats left Saudi Arabia in 3Q2020

  • Expats
  • 25 January 2021
Australian expats warned of tax bills on return post-pandemic

  • Expats
  • 08 January 2021
Asia-Pacific dominates 2021 Henley Passport Index

  • Expats
  • 05 January 2021
Back to Top

Most read

HSBC appoints CEO for the Middle East region
HSBC appoints CEO for the Middle East region
People moves: Phoenix Group, Franklin Templeton, TMF Group, AJ Bell, Arete, Just Group
People moves: Phoenix Group, Franklin Templeton, TMF Group, AJ Bell, Arete, Just Group
UK Budget: Sunak freezes lifetime allowance for pensions contributions
UK Budget: Sunak freezes lifetime allowance for pensions contributions
Nordic Fund Selector of the Year 2021 shortlist announced
Nordic Fund Selector of the Year 2021 shortlist announced
Europe's wealth mangers increasingly focusing on Bitcoin: survey
Europe's wealth mangers increasingly focusing on Bitcoin: survey
  • Contact Us
  • Marketing solutions
  • About Incisive Media
  • Terms and conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017
Loading